Punch



oct. 25, 1960 J. K. DUNCAN ETAL 2,957,380

PUNCH I5 ShetS-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1957 IwvEN-ros JAMES K. DUNCAN Oct. 25, 1960 .1. K. DUNCAN ETAL 2,957,380

PUNCH Filed Aug. 2. 195'? 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INvaN-rans JAMES K. DUNCAN WsLuAM H. DREYER TVS.

Oct. 25, 1960 y J. K. DUNCAN ETAL 2,957,380

' PUNCH v Filed Aug. 2, i957 l 5 sheets-sneer :s

INvENx-oszs JAMES K. DUNCAN wnLuAM H. DREYER Uaifed. States, Patent' Q "The present ,invention relates ltov sheet punching apa paratus and umore particularly to a manuallyoperated punch forforming,'bindingholes ina staclcof paper sheets. v Q

It is the general aimof the-inventiontoiprovide a novel punching,apparatushavingfangarray of punches which may be selectively conditioned forgfvorming a desired pattern of punched holes ina stack `of sheets.v In morev detail, it is anobject to provide an apparatus with a punch array mounted in a commonv actuator with individual disabling r'neans ofa novel, type for each punch so that.

individual punches can be quickly and conveniently selectedforogfneration,y o r disabled, making the apparatus completely liexible in operation. vIt is a related detailed object 'to-provide aV punch array witha disabling'means of novel design ,for 'each punch which can `be easily positioned with a detentin'g action forlselective disabling individnal punches ,without removing partsfro'm Athe yapparatus. ,l

It is, also tan object to'provide a punching apparatus having an array' ofpunchesof novel construction per.-4

m-itting cyclic or, st agg`ered" operation ofthe punches both in :cutting into, and'withdrawing' from, the work so that a smooth shear-like Apunching actionis obtained. Itff` is a related 4object to vrntni'nt'the punches of an arrayin a novelfmannerpermittingeconomical replacement convenient servicing.

`It is a further object to' provide "al punch and die Lapparatus with a novel'punch supportand guiding structure which is strong, rigid, 's inooth in` operation, and economy ical to manufacture. l'

., 2,957,380 Patented oct. 25, 1960 within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Turning first to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a punch 10 embodying the invention which includes a work supporting table 11 and aV protective cover 12, shown partially broken away in Fig. 2, which encloses the punch mechanism. At the intersection of the table 11 and lthe housing 12 there is located a work receiving throat 13 defined by an upwardly tia-red, rigid, hold-down bar or stripper 14 which closely overlies the end of the table 11 (see Fig. 3).

In order to punch a spaced row of holes along the edge of a sheet positioned in the throat 13, an arrayy of punches 15 is reciprocably mounted within the cover 12 and alined over a corresponding series of die openings t 16 formed in the table 11. The punches 15 are adapted I to vertically reciprocate into and out of the die openings 16 to perform their-,punching function in the conventional manner. Guiding the punches in their vertical movement are apertures 17, formed in the holddown plate 14, and `apertures 18 formed in a second plate 19 thatis supported at a fixed distance above the hold-down plate.

The entire array of punches 15 is supported and actuated by a punch block 25 the apparatus and over the throat 13. Each of the vpunches 15 is suspended within its respective guide apertures 18, 19 by means of a projecting pin 28 carried by each punch and which rests upon a pair of inturned opposed ledges 26, 27 forming part of the punch block 25.

`The punch block 25 is mounted for vertical movement VVon a pair of spaced H-shaped slides 31, 32 (see Figs. 1

other objects and'aavantages of 'the invention wili'be-ff come apparent upon reading the iattached detailedde? scription and upon reference to: the drawings in which:

-Figure' lis ar-'front elevation view -of a punch constructed iaecording to t the present l invention I with its protective cover removed. t

Fig. 2 is an end view o-f the punch shown in Fig.

the end portion of the punchlcover broken away."

Fig. 3'=isran `enlarged,` fragmentary, 'sectional view of a portion of the punch shown in Fig. l; l

lPig'. 4 is' a plan 'ew of `a single punch sub-assembly offwhich threeare incorporated in the punchshown yin :Figa 5 is lafront elevation'rview ofthe punch sub-asf f ,Y A.no 'Figf 6 is a" fragmentary plarrview showing a rear work positioning vstop Vutilized in the 4punch illustrated inFig. 1.

Fig. -7 is'similarto Fig." `3 and shows a punch disabled' and the punchblock inits'lowerposition. Y l' UFig.` Sis similar toFi'g. 5 and shows the punchesin the sub-assembly following the punching' operation and 47, 48 journaled in 'naled byfmeans of suitable bearings on extension shafts at the'opposite ends of the shafts 33, 34 (see Fig. l).Y

ying the handle 50 and 2) whose opposite legs straddle and reciprocate relativeto a pair of crossbars 33, 34 which are flat-sided in cross-section. The crossbars are fixed between upstanding frame plates 35, 36, which in turn are mounted onf In the present' the table 11 by means of screws 36a. l embodiment, bearing insets 37 are secured to the opposite' inner sides of the legs formed on the H-shaped -members 31,' 32 in .at ,engagement with 'the H-'shaped members and the crossbars.

To reciprocate the punch block 425, yand thus l.actuate the punchesfl, a pair of radial cams 41, 42 are 'rotat ablyr secured to the H-shaped members 3 1, 32 and adapted to cooperate with respective pairs of rollers 45 r tatcl non-rotatablysecured to a shaft; 43 which isv journaled` by means o f. roller bearings 34 Within the H-shaped members'31, 32 The roller pairs 46' and 47, 48 are iOuI.- j

The cams 41, 42 are similar in configuration and are so designed that rotatton of the shaft 43 countercloclcv wise in Fig. 2, will causethe cams 41, 42 tolbear against i V"the upper rollers 45, 47 respectively, and thus forc e downwardly the H-shaped members 31, 32 carrying the 5 punch'block` 25, Return rotation ofi` the shaftA v43 cause the cams 41, 42 to bear against the lowernroll'ers 46, 48 and thus move upwardly the H-shaped membersj 31, 32 and the associated punch block structure.

To permit the shaft 43 to be conveniently rotatedby I manual'force, a handle 50 is non-rotatably secured'to one end of the shaft 43. It will be understood that an operator' may reciprocate the punch block 25 by vgraspthe table 11.

yIn keeping with the present invention, the punches "115' are mounted for limited lost-motion movement vrelative to the' punch block 2S-and a positionable blocking'pin'is provided for each punch to prevent lost-motion` moveextending transversely across the crossbars y33, '34 as to provide' a low-friction, sliding connection l between xed position on the supports 35 36.` In the illustrated apparatus the cams 41, 4231?@ y and rotating, itforwardly and toward Y.

ment when the punch block is reciprocated. In the present embodiment, the blocking pins are slidable between a withdrawn position allowing a punch to remain idle when the punch block is reciprocated, and a blocking position preventing lost-motion punch movement and causing the punch to operate when the punch block is reciprocated. In this way, selective operation of each of the punches 15 in the punch array is obtainable.

In order to provide lost-motion movement of the punches 15, the punch block 25 is formed of a series of plates secured together with a central plate 51 being of lesser height than the adjoining plates 52, 53 so as to define a slot 54 extending along the punch block directly above the array of the punches 15.

l To prevent lost-motion movement of the punches 15 up into the slot 54 when the punch block is reciprocated, each punch is associated with an overlying blocking pin 55 which is slidable in apertures formed in an outer punch block plate 56 and a bracket 57 having a Z-shaped crosssection and which is secured to the plate 56. Each pin 55 is closely alined with the bottom of the plate 52 and a ledge 58 formed on the plate 53. Thus, when `a pin 55 is slid inwardly and over a punch 15, the reactive punching force exerted by the punch against the pin as the punch block is reciprocated will be transmitted directly to the ledge 58 and the bottom of the plate 52 without tending to d eform the pin.

v In order to selectively retain the pins 55 in either their inserted position, wherein they block the slot 54, or their withdrawn position, where they permit the associated punch to idly move into the slot, a detent arrangement 60 isr provided for each blocking pin. lIn the present embodiment, the detents 60 include a ball l61 partially recessed into the under-surface of Aa pin 55 and a bent springA leaf segment 62 which resiliently bears upwardly againstl the ball. Each of the segments 62 are preferably formed las integral fingers on a plate 63 that is clamped between the plate 56 and the bracket 57. It can be seen by comparing Figs. 3 and 7 that each spring leaf 62 will releasably retain a pin 55 in either its fully inserted or fully withdrawn position. It will also be noted that the pins 55 are at all times held captive and are not removed to disable their associated punches. Thus, there is no opportunity for the pins to become misplaced or lost,

Further in carrying out the invention, the punches 15 are proportioned and arranged in sub-assemblies so that theoperation of the punches will not be simultaneous,

ybut, .rather the punching action will proceed in 'waves along the .work somewhat in the manner of a shearing operation so that less force is required to form a series of punched holes and a smoother operating cycle is achieved. In themachine of the illustrated embodiment, the array of punches 15 is subdivided into three identical sub-assemblies 71, 72 and 7,3 (see Fig. l). Each of the sub-assemblies 71-73 includes a series of the punches 15 which are of varying length and arranged in stepped relation (see Figs. 4 and 5).

In the preferred arrangement, the centermost punch is the tallest in each sub-assembly and progressively shorter punches are located on either side of the tall center punch. It can thus be seen that as the punch block 25 is brought downwardly by operating the handle 50, the centermost punch in each sub-assembly will be the first to perform its punching function with the punches on either side of the center punch operating successively thereafter. The punching action is thus shear-like, the cutting starting at a single point and spreading outwardly from that point.

It has been found that in operating a punching apparatus of the type disclosed, as much force is required to withdraw the punches from the work as is required to initially punch the work. The spacing of the pins 28 from the top of the punches is thus varied so that the withdrawing force is smoothly and successively applied to each ofthe punches 15. It can thus be seen that the punch Thus, as can be seen in Fig.y 8, upward movement of the punch block 25 will cause the center punch in each of the sub-assemblies to be the rst withdrawn from the work followed by the successive withdrawal of the punches to eitherside of the tall* center punch.

In addition, by mounting the punches in separate subassemblies, replacement of worn or damaged parts becomes more convenient and economical since the punches are handled in small groups.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a rear work positioning stop that is shiftable laterally of the machine 10 and provided with cams to vary its effective back-stopping position in accordance with its lateral setting. In the present embodiment, the -rear work positioning stop comprises an elongated bar slidable laterally at the rear of the throat 13. The bar 80 is provided with a cam plate at each end, 81 and 82 respectively, with the cam plate 82 being formed with an upwardly turned flange 83 that provides a convenient handle for shifting the bar 80 laterally of the work supporting table 11. The cam plates 81, 82 are provided with parallel cam slots, 84, 85 respectively, which are diagonally disposed with respect -to the bar 80 and which engage camfollowers 86 that are secured to the table 11 and pass through the cam slots. It is thus be understood that as the bar is shifted laterally the fixed cam followers 86 will engage the diagonal cam slots 84, 85 and cause the stop bar 80 to move longitudinally of the machine 10.

'Ilo aid in properly locating the bar 80, a spring-biased detent 88 is mounted within the surface of the table 11 (see Fig. l) and cooperates with any one of a series of grooves 89 formed in the underside of the cam plate 82 (see Fig. 6). A pointer 91 and gauge plate 92 may also be provided -to indicate to the operator the position in which the bar 80 has been placed.

To assist in positioning the work an adjustable side guide 96 is mounted on the table 11 and provided with a thumbscrew 97 effective for locking the guide 96 -in a desired adjusted position. l

For the purpose of receiving the scrap material punched from the work, a tray 93 is slidably mounted on ways 94, 95 (see Fig. l) for movement beneath the work supporting table 11 and to a posi-tion underlying the die openings 16. It will thus be apparent that the scrap punched from the work by the punches 15 will be deposited directly downwardly into the tray 93 and -that the tray may be slid from beneath the table 11 vto be conveniently emptied.l

We claim as our invention:

l. In a punching apparatus, a punch structure comprising, in combination, a punch block having a ledge, an array of punches slidably mounted in said block adjacent said ledge so that each punch may reciprocate upwardly -into said block, each of said punches having a lateral projection -to engage said ledge and thus limit downward movement of the punch relative to the block, a series of blocking pins slidable in said punch block Iand positioned so that one pin may be disposed over each of said punches to limit upward movement of the punch relative to the block, said punches being of regularly Varying length so -that upon downward movement of the punch block the punches in the array will successively be urged by their overlying pins into punching engagement with the work, and each said projection being spaced at regularly varying distances from the tops of the punches so that upon upward movement of the punch block the punches in the arral will successively be lifted by said ledge from the wor 2. In a punching apparatus, a punch structure comprising, in combination, a punch block having a ledge, an array of punches slidably mounted in said block adjacent said ledge so that each punch may reciprocate into said block, means for limiting upward movement of the punch relative to the block, each of said punches having a lateral- 1y projecting pin to engage said ledge and thus limi-t downward movement of the punch relative to the block, said punches being of regularly varying length so that upon downward movement of the punch block the punches in the array will successively be urged by `said means into punching engagement with the work, and each pin being spaced at regularly varying distances from the tops of the punches so that upon upward movement of the punch block the punches in the array will successively be lifted 1 by said ledge from the work.

3. In a punching apparatus, a punch structure comprising, in combination, a punch block, an array of punches slidably mounted in said block so that each punch may reciprocate into said block, means for limiting upward movement of the punch relative to the block, each of said punches having a laterally projecting pin, means on `said punch block for engaging said pin toV limit downward movement of the punch relative to the block, said punches being of regularly varying length so that upon downward movement of the punch block the punches in the array will successively be urged by said limiting means into punching engagement with the Work, and each pin being spaced at regularly varying distances fnom the tops of the punches so that upon upward movement of the punch block the punches in the array will successively be lifted by said engaging means from the work,

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 238,739 Wilbor Mar. 8, 1881 484,832 Van Wagenen Oct. 25, 1892 734,496 Ames July 28, 1903 1,164,656 Macbeth Dec. 21, 1915 1,304,441 Bartee May 20, 1919 1,365,738 Sjoholm June 18, 1921 1,650,411 Yates Nov. 22, 1927 1,931,133 Juul Oct. 17, 1933 2,204,405 Dunlap June 1l, 1940 

